I thought I would share bits and pieces of my life. I am a lifelong Christian. I have been married for over 39 years to Stan. No children. We have 1 Miniature Pinscher named MoneyPenny and 3 Italian Greyhounds named Persephone, Dresden and Capodimonte and a calico cat named Binky. We have 9 nieces/nephews and 7 grandnieces/nephews whom we love. My hobbies are genealogy, reading, digital scrapbooking, history, dogs, homemaking.

I didn't go out yesterday to shop so I didn't take these photos (I found them on the Internet) but from what I see on the news, it's like that around here too. You couldn't give the stuff away for free and expect me to go out in that crowd to get it. It's not worth it to me. Getting in that kind of crush is hell to me. I don't like crowds and I don't like waiting in long lines and I don't like the pushing or the greedy, selfish grabs just to get the last one or the cheapest deal. If you want to ruin a whole day and spend it in miserable tension and exhaustion...then, by all means, go shopping on Black Friday. If you like getting cursed at, pushed around, frustrated...go for it! If you like staying up all night and standing in the cold in long lines...then Black Friday is for you! But for me, I'll do my shopping at a more reasonable pace. In fact, I try to have my shopping mostly done by now. During the summer I've been yard sale-ing and thrift store shopping and keeping an eye out for bargains that will make good gifts at Christmas so I'm not pressured at this time of year to get in all the crowds. There is also shopping online! You can buy your gifts from the comfort of your own home, with a good cup of hot chocolate and wearing your fuzzy pajamas. Or, make your gifts. I love gifts that my sisters have made or have gotten at a great bargain.